London, England
Thomas Key

Boxwood, ivory, brass
ca.  1815-1840
Length:  26 in; Width: 3.5 in
Wind Instruments – Woodwind Instruments – Single Reed

Engraved: Upper and lower joints are stamped with maker marks and the bell contains the full mark: 1 / KEY / LONDON / (Unicorn head emblem) / CHARING CROSS

This clarinet was made by Thomas Key in London, England around 1815 to 1840.  It has a single-reed mouthpiece, a straight, cylindrical tube with an almost cylindrical bore, and a flared bell.  This 13-keyed clarinet in Bb is made of boxwood with ivory ferrules and flat round brass keys mounted on raised rings and blocks. It is stamped with the maker’s name on each section.  In 1812, Iwan Müller remodeled the clarinet and raised the number of keys to 13. This allowed the instrument to play in any key with near-equal ease.   Thomas Key worked at 20 Charing Cross between 1812/13 to 1853.   

Resource: ‘The New Lanagwill Index: A Dictionary O Musical Wind Instrument Makers and Inventors,’ 1993, William Waterhouse. Pub. Tony Bingham., pg. 204